The Interactive Fly

Genes involved in tissue and organ development

The Drosophila Brain


Genes expressed in brain morphogenesis


*** indicates a special link to brain specific information

Please note: (o) = expression in optic lobe

Brain structure

The Interactive database Flybrain provides data and maps on the brain of Drosophila and describes its major brain centers. These include 1) the antennal lobes, serving as first order neuropils of the olfactory chemosensory pathway; 2) the mushroom bodies, lobate neuropils mainly supplied by antennal lobe projection neurons, that are thought to be involved in learning and memory; 3) the central body complex, which comprises the ellipsoid body lying anterior to the fan shaped body and superior arch, both above the paired noduli. All these neuropils are associated with the protocerebral bridge and the protocerebrum; 4) the protocerebrum, a collection of discrete interlinked neuropils, the functions of which are not elucidated but which comprise substantial parts of the central brain; 5) the posterior slope and lateral deutocerebrum, which comprise mechanosensory and visual neuropils, the latter supplied by efferents from the optic lobes; 6) the optic lobes which comprise four successive neuropils serving the compound eye: the lamina, the outer and inner medulla, lobula, and lobula plate (update courtesy of Flybrain, 8/96).

Glia and axonogenesis

Separate sections of The Interactive Fly group genes according to their involvement in glia morphogenesis and axonogenesis.


genes expressed in brain morphogenesis

Genes involved in organ development

Home page: The Interactive Fly © 1995, 1996 Thomas B. Brody, Ph.D.

The Interactive Fly resides on the
Society for Developmental Biology's Web server.